Dioxin pre-treatment project at Bien Hoa airport starts

• Vietnam and US start second phase of dioxin contamination treatment at Danang airport
• VAVA President urges new methods to mobilize support for dioxin victim

At the event

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), the Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee on overcoming the aftermath of bombs, mines and explosives, and chemicals left by wars in Vietnam (Steering Committee 701); Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of Defense, Standing Member of the Steering Committee 701; Representatives of the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and representatives of a number of ministries, branches and Dong Nai province.

According to Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, the area of ​​Bien Hoa Airport was identified as one of the hotspots of postwar toxic and chemical pollution in Vietnam.

The assessment results by both Vietnamese and US researchers have showed that the amount of dioxin contaminated soil and mud in need of treatment in the area is more than half a million cubic meters, which requires a great amount of human and material resources, and technology.

The project on infrastructure construction and dioxin pre-treatment at Bien Hoa airport that has been assigned by the Prime Minister to the Ministry of Defense include subprojects: demining; infrastructural facilities, communications system; zoning, anti-dioxin spread; relocating military units and buildings from contaminated areas detected by the researchers.

The total investment in this project is VND 270 billion, funded by the State Budget. According to Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, the project is one of the concrete steps to realize the determination and effort of the Government, the Steering Committee 701 to overcome the consequences of the wars in general and treatment of toxic chemical contamination in hotspots in particular.

At the same time, the project is also considered the preparations of infrastructure and technology for the implementation of a general project to treat dioxin contamination in the area of ​​Bien Hoa airport.

The general project that will reportedly cost some $500 million of ODA provided by the United States and some international partners is expected to start in the end of this year.

In order to carry out this dioxin pre-treatment project, the US had funded $ 15 million to the Government of Vietnam and some international organizations to survey and assess the overall level of dioxin contamination in the area.